Conflict in Northern Ireland

Religious Conflict

2012-2013

Where are we talking about?

Who is fighting?

• Protestants

• Protestants are the majority in Northern Ireland.

• Catholics

• Catholics are a strong minority in Northern Ireland (and majority in Ireland)

Why are these people fighting?

• In the 1500s, Ireland was conquered by King Henry VIII and England.

• He split England away from the Catholic Church.

Why are these people fighting?

• King Henry took land in Northern Ireland from Catholic nobles and gave it to his English and Scot friends.

• Irish Catholics are still upset!

England

Northern Ireland

Why is Northern Ireland not part of Ireland?

• In the early 20th century, Irish Catholics decided they wanted to break away from England.

• The Protestant minority feared living in a Catholic country.

Why is Northern Ireland not part of Ireland?

• In 1921, after years of conflict, the British tried to make everyone happy by creating an Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, which would remain part of the United Kingdom.

What did this mean for Northern Ireland?

• They would have some self-government, but still be part of the U.K.

• The Catholics were now the minority.

Catholics in Northern Ireland

• They began to face discrimination.

• Housing

• Jobs

• Education

Catholics in Northern Ireland

• In the 1960s, Catholics started to take to the streets in protest. (inspired by Civil Rights Movement around the world)

• “Bloody Sunday”: In 1972, someone fired a shot. The British fired on the crowd and killed 20 people. No one knows who fired first

U2 – “Bloody Sunday”I can’t believe the news today

Oh, I can’t close my eyes and make it go awayHow long...How long must we sing this song? How long? how long...*Broken bottles under children’s feetBodies strewn across the dead end streetBut I won’t heed the battle callIt puts my back upPuts my back up against the wall

• And the battle’s just begunThere’s many lost, but tell me who has wonThe trench is dug within our heartsAnd mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

• And it’s true we are immuneWhen fact is fiction and tv realityAnd today the millions cryWe eat and drink while tomorrow they die

“The Troubles”

• 1960s until 1998

• Violence was common and terrorism was the weapon of choice.

• Car bombs gained popularity.

“The Troubles”

• The British Army got involved, but the violence only escalated.

Who is the IRA, and how do they fit in?

• A nationalist group devoted to the idea of a united Ireland.

• These are radical “Christians”.

• Want the British out of Northern Ireland.

The landscape of Northern Ireland• You know when you are entering a Catholic or

Protestant neighborhood.

Catholics call it Derry; Protestants call it Londonderry. Why wouldCatholics not want to call it Londonderry?

Conflict today

• Murals and artwork on buildings show support for the IRA or the Loyalists (those who want to remain a part of the UK).

Conflict today

• A “peace wall” exists in some places, separating Protestants and Catholics.

• Catholic and Protestant children don’t go to the same schools.

Conflict today

• Every year, “Orangemen” march in Northern Europe, celebrating British victories over the Catholics.

• They cause conflict by marching through Catholic neighborhoods.

• This would be like the Yankees having their World Series parade in Philadelphia.

IRA is a terrorist group that wants Ireland to be all Irish.

•

Warning sign to British in Londonderry, NI

•

•

•

Car bomb clean up in Northern Ireland

•

estates

•

Neighborhood with several ‘Peace Walls’ dividing the Areas of Belfast. Many Protestants and Catholics want to keep the wall up for good.

The Peace Wall, Belfast, NI – You can stop and read the wall

or leave a message.•

Do they have peace now?

• Many other countries have gotten involved, but peace talks were back and forth for many years.

• The sticking point, appeared to be the disarmament of the IRA.

• They didn’t want to give up their weapons in case more violence broke out.

Do they have peace now?• In 2007, both sides agreed to share power in

Northern Ireland if the IRA would concede that Northern Ireland would only join Ireland if they voted to.

• Neither side will let their guard down however, and Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom.